Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer has become a global problem. In recent years, it’s become the most common cancer among women worldwide. As you’ll see below, judging by the numbers, breast cancer is a dangerous threat we can’t ignore anymore. Hundreds of thousands of women are affected every year. Breast cancer is usually noticeable by a lump in the breasts. At that point, you can be sure that something bad is happening there. But if you notice the early symptoms, you have a much better chance of stopping cancer.

One of the biggest problems with breast cancer is late detection. Many organizations advocate for early detection and diagnosis by trying to raise awareness. That being said, we will list some of the early breast cancer signs, along with some of the later signs. If you have any of the signs, do not ignore them. Instead, schedule a visit to the doctor.

Breast cancer numbers

To give you an idea of how common breast cancer is, here are some of the numbers. Yes, they sound terrifying.

One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer once in her life.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.

According to estimates, 246,660 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Of them, more than 40,000 lose their life.

It’s rare, but men are diagnosed with breast cancer as well. The numbers show more than 2,600 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Of them, more than 400 lose their life.

Every 13 minutes, a woman dies due to breast cancer.

Every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Currently, there are almost 3 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

In order to be one of the survivors, you need to look for the early signs of breast cancer.

As soon as you notice a new mole, visit a doctor. According to research, women with moles have a 13% increased risk of breast cancer. So women with moles should be more careful, and they should schedule regular tests and visits to the doctor’s office just so they can detect breast cancer early.

If you have moles all over your body, the moment you notice one of your moles is changing, visit the doctor.

Signs of Breast Cancer

Aches and pains in the breast area

As I mentioned at the beginning, a lump in the breast could be a sign of breast cancer. But before the lump develops, you’ll notice unexplainable pain and aches in the breast area. The moment you feel unusual aches, along with occasional throbbing and discomfort, visit your doctor.

One of the common mistakes women make is they think of this pain as isolated and localized. But breast cancer is not always a full lump; sometimes, there’s no lump at all. Sometimes, there might be just half a lump. Sometimes, it can be just strange-looking skin appearance, accompanied by pain in the chest area. That being said, look for more than one symptom. If they manifest at the same time, it might be a good time to consult your physician.

Hoarse throat and annoying cough

Breast cancer is not an isolated type of cancer. In most cases, breast cancer spreads to the uterus, but it can also spread to the lungs. In the latter case, the result is persistent coughing and a hoarse throat.

And no, that is not your regular cold/flu cough. You’ll notice the difference, as the coughing never stops. Some statistics show that in more than half of the cases, breast cancer spreads to the lungs. The result is shortness of breath, dry cough, and hoarse throat.

Unexplained fatigue and tiredness

Fatigue and tiredness can be symptoms of so many diseases. For example, fatigue is also a symptom of magnesium deficiency. However, if you haven’t done anything to trigger the tiredness and fatigue, it might be time to think about cancer. Yes, you can be fatigued by physical exercises, but if you feel tired without having done any physical exercise, you may have breast cancer.

Why do you feel tired when you have cancer? Cancer causes chemical imbalances in your body. As a result, your body doesn’t have all the chemicals, minerals, and vitamins it needs for proper functioning. On its own, it’s not enough to check with the doctor. However, if you notice it along with other symptoms, check with a physician. Sometimes, breast cancer patients feel tired to the point they can’t get up from the bed.